Ubisoft has officially acquired Amazon Games’ Montreal team, along with their in-development MOBA March of Giants. Even more exciting for fans: the deal marks the return of Rainbow Six Siege’s original creative director, Xavier Marquis, to Ubisoft after six years away.
The acquisition includes:
- Full transfer of the development team into Ubisoft.
- Ownership of the March of Giants IP, which had recently completed a closed alpha test.
- Marketing support from Amazon via Twitch, ensuring visibility for the game’s launch.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot praised the team’s “proven experience in building globally successful competitive and live games,” signaling Ubisoft’s intent to strengthen its portfolio in the competitive multiplayer space.
The Return of Xavier Marquis
The headline isn’t just the acquisition—it’s the return of Xavier Marquis, the original creative director of Rainbow Six Siege. Marquis was instrumental in shaping Siege’s tactical depth, destructible environments, and team-based gameplay, which transformed the title into one of Ubisoft’s most successful live-service games. Alongside Marquis, Alexandre Parizeau (former managing director of Ubisoft Toronto) also rejoins the company.
This reunion is significant. Siege was launched in 2015 to modest expectations but grew into a global esports phenomenon. Marquis’ leadership was central to that transformation, and his return suggests Ubisoft wants to replicate that success with March of Giants.
Backstory: Amazon’s Retreat, Ubisoft’s Opportunity
The deal comes amid Amazon’s downsizing of its gaming division, which has struggled to find footing despite ambitious projects. Amazon Games Montreal was one of several studios affected by restructuring and layoffs. Rather than shelving March of Giants, Amazon opted to divest the project, allowing Ubisoft to step in.
For Ubisoft, this is a strategic win:
- Expanding into the MOBA genre, a space dominated by League of Legends and Dota 2, but still ripe for innovation.
- Reclaiming veteran talent who already understand Ubisoft’s culture and live-service ambitions.
- Leveraging Twitch marketing, ensuring strong visibility in the competitive gaming ecosystem.
Why This Matters for Players
- Fresh IP with experienced leadership: Marquis and Parizeau bring credibility and proven success in competitive multiplayer design.
- Ubisoft’s renewed focus on live-service games: After years of mixed results, Ubisoft is doubling down on genres with long-term engagement potential.
- Potential esports ambitions: Given Siege’s trajectory, Ubisoft may position March of Giants as its next big competitive title.
This acquisition is more than a studio shuffle—it’s a signal of Ubisoft’s intent to dominate competitive multiplayer once again. With March of Giants already generating buzz in closed alpha and Xavier Marquis back at the helm, Ubisoft is betting on lightning striking twice. For fans of Siege and competitive gaming, this could mark the beginning of Ubisoft’s next big esports chapter.
